Today's Indian Express carrying my opinion of increasing police attacks

Center for Health and Development ( R )

Dr Pruthvish and Dr Edmond Fernandes

Dr Pruthvish, MD Community Medicine, an International Expert on Waste Management, Consultant to WHO-SEARO. 

Lessons from Post Disaster Philippines

LESSONS FROM POST DISASTER PHILIPPINES

The Philippines was struck by Typhoon Yolanda ( Haiyan ) last year. In its likelihood, it was the worst people there have ever seen and witnessed. The places hard hit, were Tacloban, Cebu and Iloilo. As the International media played rescue by letting the world know that it was a tragedy beyond proportion, this was a challenge that only the people there had to confront, deal with and survive.  Lives were lost, properties destroyed and damage caused would take time to heal, time measured not in months but in years.  Beliefs were shaken, faith was questioned and then comes the question,” to what kind of a God can one pray in such circumstances?.” The answer is only to that God, who St Paul wrote, spared not his own son. “

It is understandable that faith will be questioned in such instances. The inner wounds would not heal for a long long time, may be not even in a lifetime. But the power of the universe and the power of God inspires life. Sustain hope, is the message that the people of The Philippines gave to the world.

I had the good fortune to represent the Indian Chapter for the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia which is based in Japan holding a United Nation Economic and Social Security General Consultative status. The efforts were championed by Dr Lynette Chua, President, AMDA - Philippines. In Association with Lions International, we treated around 800 plus patients over a period of 2 days and the efforts lasted for a week, as it was AMDA's second effort , prior to the one at Tacloban. Dr Primitive Chua, Former President, Philippines Medical Association and AMDA Advisor spear headed the International Efforts.

Raul Tupas, Hon'ble Vice Governor, Province of Iloilo welcomed the international doctors at the airport and thanked them for taking time of from their daily office. Mayor Jed Mabilog and Mayor Reny extended their support.

Gualbarto Manuel, co-ordinator, Philippines Army, accompanied the crew through the journey and efforts.

The joy one finds to reach out to people in such times is something which can’t be put into words, but only fondly appreciated in the remembering.

A few quick lessons demonstrated by the people there.

1)      Being Grateful – not often do we see people being thankful for a kind deed done. Most people just pass it off by thinking it is something everyone should do, but no one really does it.  The Filipinos were extremely thankful, deeply grateful and speechless by the fact that people worldwide, unknown to them, strangers, just jumped in to help them in times like these, temporarily taking leave from their work and responsibilities.

2)      Discipline and Respect – waiting for their turn for the rescue and relief goods to reach them, they showcased great amount of discipline and respect for individual liberty. There have been instances of desperation, but those are extremes where life hanged on a cliff-hanger!!

3)      Rendering service – the local Filipinos who helped International help reach them, the government who was pro-active and more honest and all those busy individuals who spared time to join in the spirit of volunteering demonstrated that life is important in itself because it is life, because it is unique and unrepeatable with its own rules and independent priorities.

4)      Reaching out – they not only helped us to reach out to them, but also taught us how important it is to help others, to find time and be part of the social cause. A refusal to reach out, means to deny people a role in this world, a lost opportunity to participate in history, to encounter us, to seek out the best, to secure a future, to find God..

5)      Disaster preparedness – how prepared are we to respond to natural disasters and man-made disasters ? Are we ready to even participate in social causes honestly and selflessly? I leave you with these questions.